Gum massaging and teeth strengthening device



F. J. GRUSS May 26, 1942.

GUM MASSAGING AND TEETH STRENGTHENING DEVICE Filed' Nov. 12, 1940 v I hATTORNEY Patented May 26, 1942 H ED TATE$ N T oee 'ce' GUM MASSAGING ANDTEETH STRENGTHENING DEVICE Francis J.- Gruss, San Francisco, Calif.Application November 12, 1940, Serial No.e365,155 4 Claims. -(o1.128-62) This invention relates to a gum massaging and teethstrengthening device. V

The. object of the presentinvention is generally to improve and simplifythe construction and operation of devices .of the character-;de--

gums; to provide a rubber sleeve whichserves to maintain' the properspacing between'' the massaging tips and which also 1 functions asfamember which may be grasped-or bitten by the teeth to exercise andstrengthen them; and further, to provide a device of the characterdescribed in which all parts are readily removable and separable forcleaning and sterilization after use.

The gum massaging and teeth strengthening device is shown by way ofillustration in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is aperspective view of the same;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in which the massagingdevice is applied to the gums adjacent the teeth;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the device showing the sleeve, togetherwith the outer head and the detachable clamping plate removed from theshank;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the spacing sleeve;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the outer head; and

heads 8 and 9,'and acombination bite and spacing sleeve l0.

The massaging heads are identical in con-.

struction, the head part of'each, being made of 1 rubber and'the headstapering from the center outwardly, being of maximum thickness at thecenter'and thinnest at the outer end, to give flexibility.Bristle-likerubber massaging tips II are provided at the outer end ofeach head member, and a central opening [2 isformed in each head topermit the'headstto be slipped-over and'into place on the shank t. Theclamping plate 6 has two right-angular flanges one at each end, to gripthe side edges of the adjacent massaging head, and it is rigidly securedagainst the shoulder 3, as removal of this plate is'not necessary. Theclamping plate I is identical in construction, with the exception that"a slot la is 'formed therein, 'andrecesses lb areformed on oppositesides of theslot ,to receive the fin,-

gers' 5-5, as will later be described. Q I V If the several parts,-;to&wit,'-the massaging heads the clamp 1, and thesleeve; have beenremoved from the shank for cleaning or sterilizing,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the detachable clamping plate.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and4, A indicates a handle having a metallic rod or extension 2 terminatingin a shoulder 3. Extending outwardly from the shoulder, at right anglesto the rod, is a shank 4, the outer end of which is provided with a pairof opposed fingers 5-5 to form a T-shaped interlocking head, the purposeof which will hereinafter be described, and adapted to be slipped overand secured to the shank are a pair of clamping plates 6 and 1, a pairof massaging they are replaced as follows: First, the head 8 is appliedto the shank and forced against the clamping plate 6; the sleeve I0 isnext placed in position, then the head'9 and finally the clamping plate7. The application of plate 1 is accomplished by turning it so that theslot 7a lies parallel to the fingers 5-5; the plate is then pushedinwardly against the head 9, causing this together with the sleeve I i)and head 8 to be slightly compressed. When this happens, the

fingers 5-5 pass through the slot la, and by then turning the plate sothat the slot assumes a position at right angles to the fingers 5-5, itmay be released, permitting the fingers to enter the depressions 1b,thereby forming an interlock which secures the plate 7 and the remainingparts in position and against removal while the device is being used;However, when the parts are to be removed for cleaning or otherwise, itis quickly and easily accomplished by merely depressing the plate 1 andturning it until the slot 1a aligns with the fingers 5-5. In this eventthe plate is removable, and so. are the other parts, and theymay thus beindividually cleaned and sterilized.

The device is not intended merely for massaging of the gums adjacent theteeth, but it is s also used for strengthening the teeth. This may Also,by biting the sleeve and pulling on the 'handle in a sidewisedirection,the teeth are further exercised and strengthened.

The device is equally applicable to the upper and lower teeth; and asthe head members 8 and 9 are disposed'at right anglesto the handle A andthe shank 2,- thehandle ,will normally assume a horizontal position whenthe gums are being massaged, while-the heads will assume a verticalposition, and as they are comparatively narrow, all parts of the gums,from the innermost molars to the front, may be thoroughly massaged, suchmassaging bringing about free head member, an outer head member on theshank engaging the opposite end of the sleeve, said head and the innerhead being constructed of rubber and both heads having rubber massagingtips formed on their adjacent surfaces, and

a detachable clamping plate engaging the outer head member andinterlocking with the interlocking head, said 'detachable clamping platewhen removed permitting removal of both of the head members and thesleeve.

3. A gum massaging and teeth strengthening device comprising a handle, ashank secured to one end of the handle andat right anglestherecirculation ofblood, with the result that a healthy tough gumtissue is formed.

While this and other features of 'my'invention have been more or lessspecifically illustrated and described-I nevertheless wish it'understoodthat changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described and illustrated my in- 1. A gum massaging andteethstraightening devicecomprising a handle, a shank secured to .oneend of the handle andiat right angles'thereto, apair of spaced headmembers carriedby the shank, rubber massagingtips formed at each end ofeach head and pointing toward each other, said head members and therubber tips carried thereby being flexible throughout their length, arub- 1 bersleeve carried by the shankand disposedbetween the headmembers, and detachable means onthe shank to permit application orremoval of the head members and sleeve from the shank. 2. A gummassaging and teeth strengthening devicecomprisinga handle, a shanksecured to one end of the handle and at'right angles thereto, said shankterminating in an interlocking head, a clamping plate on the shank,an-inner head member on the shank and disposed in engagement with theclamping plate, a rubber to, said shank terminating in a T-shaped head,a pairv of spaced elongated rubber head members carried by the shank,rubber massaging tips formed on the adjacent faces of the heads, a

, rubber sleeve disposed'between the heads, an invention, what I claimand desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

nerand an outer clamping plate on the shank, said plates engaging therespective head members and maintaining. them in a position at rightanglesv to the longitudinal axis of the handle, and

-, carried by the shank, massagingtips formed at each end of each headand pointing toward each sleeve on the shank in engagement with theother, said-head members and massaging tips being constructed frubberand the head members decreasing. in thickness towards the opposite endsso as to render them increasingly flexible, a rubber. sleeve carried bythe shank and disposed between the head members, and detachable means-onthe shank to permit applicationor the shank.

removal orthe head members and sleeve from FRANCIS J. Gauss}

